practicing mise en place

Goodbye winter, hellooooo spring!

And what a beautiful spring it already is in sunny California! My friends back East have been treated to another dusting of snow, but here on the West Coast the weather has been warm and the streets have been lined with flowering trees. It is one of my favorite times of the year.

I had some lovely pears left in my refrigerator, which I accidentally let ripen too much in the midst of a hectic work schedule. Since I like my fruit crisp and at its peak (not soft), I decided to turn the pears into this lovely Italian pear cake – it was my way of saying adieu to winter and its warm, spice-filled dishes. This cake is surprisingly light and fluffy thanks to the corn starch, and lightly sweetened. I added a little cinnamon for a little extra warmth.